The cuddle struggle

by Jordan Barnes, Rachel Wilkerson and Sean Vidal - photos by Cara Binder

THE EXPERIMENT: The Big Date

#1 - Sean, Rachel and Jordan begin the cuddle date by watching a movie. Well, “watching a movie.” If the goal is cuddling and maybe hooking up, the movie is arbitrary. Like all movie dates, they began as far apart from each other as possible. No one is sure what anyone’s intentions are. #2 - Jordan and Sean are pretty relaxed. Sean makes a move to get Rachel’s hand. He’s trying to take it to the next level. Rachel’s face says she’s not impressed. She wasn’t kidding when she said she didn’t like to be touched. #3 - Rachel gives in a little and reclines. She is now touching both members of the group. They look pleased. She looks pissed. #4 - In the name of good investigative reporting, Rachel agrees to get under the sheets. While the guys are still enjoying the movie, perhaps thinking about sex, perhaps just thinking about the great plot twists, Rachel is thinking about the nearest escape route. She’s so uncomfortable she isn’t even wondering if this is going to lead to a menage a trois. #5 - There’s a new position! Sean’s thrown his arm around the group and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. #6 - Oh, we spoke to soon. Rachel’s expression resembles that of Death Row prisoners.

#7 - Why do Sean and Jordan look so angry? Is it because the girl they invited over to cuddle is refusing to touch them? #8 - Jordan and Sean insist on trying a new position in which they each rest their head on one of Rachel’s breasts. They seem really happy about this. She chants “The public has a right to know” over and over in her mind to help take her mind off the awkwardness. #9 - The ultimate cuddling position: spooning. People love spooning. Spooning is romantic, comforting, safe. Jordan is little spoon, Sean is big spoon and Rachel is just forked. Despite her shouts of “No means no!” and furious blushing, they manage to keep her in the spooning position for about five minutes. She’ll send them a bill for her therapy later. #10 - After 40 minutes of human contact, Rachel has had enough. Jordan was enjoying the three-way cuddling and Sean would prefer cuddling to not just be a “fucking sausage-fest, dude.” #11 - When the girl is anti-cuddling and you just want another warm body in your bed, sometimes a little sausage is OK.   NEXT WEEK IN STYLEDGE: Cardigans, the better sweaters

Valentine’s Day means there’s love in the air. Everyone is feeling a little amorous and singles start to get lonely for someone to buy them flowers, take them out to dinner or invite them to watch a movie. All the hype surrounding the day makes many people wish they had a cuddle buddy.

Why all the love for cuddling? It’s a popular MSU past time. But why? We’re the school known for excessive partying and a good-looking student body. Why are we so interested in reclining side-by-side with all our clothes on? You may think everyone is banging around the clock, but “We didn’t have sex, we just cuddled and it was so nice,” is not an uncommon description of a guy or girl’s Friday night.

In honor of St. Valentine, SpartanEdge’s three (single) style writers decided to investigate the trend and stimulate a cuddle session. One cuddlephile (Jordan Barnes), one apathetic cuddler (Sean Vidal) and one cuddle-phobe (Rachel Wilkerson) snuggled under the sheets to see if they felt what everyone in relationships will be feeling this Valentine’s Day. Is having someone to cuddle with really worth all the hype (and the cost of dinner and flowers)?

BEFORE THE EXPERIMENT
What all three are thinking

Jordan: Cuddling is just a part of life for me. Whether you do it with your niece while watching Nick Jr., with your best friend watching “Sex and the City” or your crush watching “SAW II,” I love every minute of it, especially with a crush. I think there’s no better way to feel close to someone and feel safe. Cuddling isn’t ever an issue or something I think about. It’s just something I do like going shopping or going out to a party. It’s the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day.

Sean: I like cuddling, I’m not a huge fan but I don’t mind it. Honestly all I’m ever thinking about is how much my arm aches or the sleep I’m not going to get. But watching a movie or just hanging out it definitely has its advantages. It’s easy to get close to people you like and are just friends with. Secretly you just want to jump on them but you have to take things slowly with girls, putting your arm around them, getting close to them, holding their hand and getting in a good position to take their clothes off. This is where cuddling is a key tool when expressing affection towards someone who is shy about expressing their feelings. It’s comfortable and that’s how a girl needs to feel if she’s going to trust you. Thus it’s vital…unless you’re trying to seduce Rachel Wilkerson.

Rachel: I hate cuddling. I hate it. Just saying the word out loud makes me break into hives. I’ve done it, but only in small doses, and it’s never been something I’ve asked to do. I don’t like to be touched, unless it’s in a sexual way. My friends can spend an entire day cuddling but I don’t have the patience. I truly do not understand its appeal. So we’re just going to touch each other…kind of? And not look at each other, but gaze in the same direction? Stare at the ceiling? After about five minutes of cuddling with a guy, my thoughts turn to, “So…are we going to hook up now?” I can’t help it. And even if you can get me to cuddle, you’ll never get me to spoon. I find it to be a most disgusting activity.

AFTER THE EXPERIMENT
Thoughts at the end

Jordan: This was definitely interesting. While Rachel was constantly turning red, I was pretty comfortable. I love to spoon, big or little, I think it’s great. The whole boob-pillow thing isn’t exactly my style. (I prefer a nice hard pec to a boob any day.) While I typically love cuddling with my girls, Rachel was a bit too uptight. Sean was definitely the better cuddler out of the two.  

Sean: I never knew someone could hate getting close to their best friends as that.  I mean you‘d think spending five or six weeks in Europe together would mean all the cuddling rights in the world, but I guess not.  It was a fun experience. I loved messing with Rach and we had the best photographer ever.  It was a little awkward when I realized I was left to cuddle with Jordan.  But we’re like brothers so it wasn’t a big deal.  Cuddling has its advantages and disadvantages but it lets you get closer to the people you feel closest to.  So this Valentines Day get a bottle of wine, some candles, a good movie and cuddle with the person you love the most. 

Rachel: Usually the reason I hate cuddling is because I am impatient and focus on whether or not the cuddling is going to lead to action. But this time, I was so uncomfortable and freaked out, I wasn’t even the littlest bit turned on. After I told my roommates of my inability to cuddle with my two best guy friends, one of them said to me, “One day you’re going to have a husband and you’re going to have to share a bed with him.” I don’t think that means I have to spend this Valentine’s Day wrapped up in a guy’s arms gazing languidly into the distance. That’s just bullshit.